To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in GeneralCourt assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolve:

Resolve to create a special commission to promote a recovery-focus in the mental health system.

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PETITION OF:

Name:

District/Address:

Patricia D. Jehlen

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 957 FILED ON: 1/20/2011

SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 987

By Ms. Jehlen, petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 987) of Jehlen for legislation to create a special commission to promote a recovery-focus in the mental health system [Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse].

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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Resolve to create a special commission to promote a recovery-focus in the mental health system.

Resolved, Resolved, That a special commission is hereby established to make an investigation and study relative to increasing successful and cost effective outcomes of mental health services in the commonwealth through the use of peer-run and recovery-oriented programs and services. The commission will be modeled after the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.

The commission shall consist of the co-chairpersons of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, who shall serve as co-chairpersons of the commission; the secretary of health and human services or a designee; the commissioner of mental health or a designee; the commissioner of public health or a designee; the director of medicaid or a designee; the commissioner of the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission or a designee; and 5 advocates from the mental health community, 1 of whom shall be from the National Empowerment Center, a statewide peer-technical assistance center; 1 of whom shall be from the Transformation Center, a statewide peer-job training organization; 1 of whom shall be a from M-POWER, a statewide peer advocacy organization; 1 of whom shall be from the Association for Behavioral Healthcare (ABH), a community services organization; and 1 of whom shall be a family member of a mental health consumer.

The commission shall: (1) solicit information and input from mental health service providers, consumers, families and any other parties or entities the commission deems appropriate; (2) examine the effectiveness mental health services in promoting successful and cost effective outcomes of recovery and wellness, (3) examine how to effectively involve peers in policy development, service delivery, training and evaluation of services, (4) examine exemplary models of delivery, and use of recovery oriented mental health services in other states; and (5) recommend legislation to address ways to improve services for people with mental health care needs.

The commission shall submit a report to the general court of the results of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerk of the senate, the clerk of the house of representatives, the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than one year from enactment of this bill.

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